April 17, 2017. 1 Samuel 25-27

Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

There are many times in everyday life that we are given a choice to either say yes or to say no, to do something or not to do something.  Sometimes we want to be selfish and do what it is we want and not care about the others involved.  Take Nabal for example in chapter 25

10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

David had his men watching out for Nabal’s servants and flocks in the desert and when the time came for him to shear some sheep, David asked for a little for his soldiers.  Nabal did not care, he wanted to be selfish and turn from David and keep it all for himself.  That didn’t sit well with David or the Lord. David strapped on his sword and was ready to do battle.  In the end, Nabal’s wife, Abigail fixes his mistake by greeting David on his march towards her husband.  David spares his life and steps aside for God to do as he sees fit, which in the end Nabal does die (25:38).

Chapter 26 we see another example of an opportunity presenting itself does not mean you should take it.  David gets word that Saul is camped out very near to him, so he decides he is going to go and check it out.  He comes upon Saul sleeping, surrounded by his army, also sleeping.  So what does David decide he is going to do? He is going to sneak into the camp and come right up to Saul.

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

Did you catch that? David had the opportunity to end this hunt for his life, he had the ability to end the life of Saul, and yet he did not.  Just because he could, did not mean he should.  There are many times we are given the opportunity to speak our mind or do something we really want to do, but as Christians we have to ask ourselves, should I? It may seem unfair, but the Lord has it in his control.